Decking areas are a great place to relax or entertain. But the British weather can take its toll, leaving decking in need of a little TLC. Luckily, there’s plenty you can do to help it look its best and to protect it from the elements. Here we’re going to run through all stages of decking care – from cleaning to finishing it – so that you have all you need to spruce up your timber flooring.
Assess the state of your decking
Before you begin, it’s essential to assess the condition of your garden decking. This can determine the best products to use and when to tackle the job.
If your decking is newly laid, we recommend leaving it to weather naturally for about six months before being stained or oiled. This helps ensure that any existing treatment has eroded, allowing the new paint or stain to properly penetrate and adhere to the deck. To spruce up its appearance, jump to our section on ‘How to care for your decking’.
If it’s untreated, over six months old or previously stained or painted, there are options available. If looking to remove an existing finish, the wood should be stripped back to bare wood - we’ll take you through how to do this in the step-by-step instructions below.
If your decking is beyond rescuing and you’re considering replacing the entire thing, or if your just want to update to a lower maintenance option, read our Buyer’s guide to decking to get to know our range. For a truly low maintenance option, consider our innovative composite deck boards (pictured below). They never need painting, staining or oiling – so there won’t be any time intensive maintenance work - and are scratch, stain and sunlight resistant so they’ll look new for longer.
Choose what paint, stain or oil to use
Selecting a finish for your decking can be as much about style as it is about protecting your timber. Paints offer a fantastic range of colours – from natural looking, subtle shades to bright and bold hues, allowing you to make a big style statement and stay on-trend with the latest seasonal looks. Specialist decking paints fill in small cracks and lock down splinters as well as colouring and protecting weathered wood, helping to give your decking an instantly dramatic makeover.
Deck stains are available in a variety of rich colours and deliver a semi-opaque finish while protecting and weatherproofing the deck.
Decking oils penetrate the timber, waterproofing and replacing natural oils and resins that are lost over time. Oils leave a subtle colour that enhances the beauty of the wood, and they don’t crack as the deck expands and contracts.
If you’re happy with how your deck looks and just want a basic level of protection to keep it from getting grey and weathered, consider a decking protector. It’ll protect your decking from sunlight and rain, as well as resisting damage from foot-traffic, and being translucent it won’t change the appearance of the wood.
Stains and oils will require regular re-application to keep your decking looking its best. Your chosen product will determine how often you’ll need to re-treat (as well as what application methods are available) as the level of protection, as well as the look they provide, varies.
For more advice on finding the right paint, stain or oil for your decking, head to our buyer’s guide to exterior paint. And once you’ve made your choice, be sure to read the instructions properly. Every product is slightly different, and it only takes a few minutes to check that you have all of the right information before you start.
When to care for your decking
Get the best out of your decking by caring for it twice a year - in spring to prepare for the summer months and in autumn to prepare for the winter ahead.
When looking for the best time, keep a close watch on the weather forecast. Don’t apply product in damp conditions or when rain is likely before the product has dried. And avoid treating your deck during very hot weather as the intense sunshine may cause the product to dry too quickly and not be fully absorbed into the wood.
